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Baseball: Hopewell Hustles to a
4-0 Start By Jeff Butler
For the second straight season, the Hopewell Baseball team has won its first four games, and tries tonight ( Thursday) to make it 5 in a row as they travel to play a team that gave them their first loss last year - Prince George. While that year Hopewell finished with an 11-11 record, indications are strong that our veteran team this year can earn a far better finish.
After a significant opening day 14-2 win in Suffolk March 12 against Lakeland High School, eyebrows were raised as Lakeland had seemed to be the better team in recent years - advancing one level further than Hopewell in last season’s Class 3 playoffs., and two years ago, defeating Hopewell twice, 7-5 and 16-5. However, this year in the 5th and 6th, Hopewell plastered Lakeland pitching for 13 runs - 7 in the 5th, and 6 in the 6th. A key hit in each inning produced 3 runs each: in the fifth, Junior Demetrius Sims ‘ bases loaded single, and in the 6th, Freshman Ethan McCumber’s triple.
Meanwhile on the mound Sims calmed the Lakeland bats on but 4 hits and two runs through 5 innings to earn the win.
Hopewell played away from home in game #2 as well as they traveled to Henrico High School, and came away with another convincing 14-1 win. Again they broke things open in the 5th inning as they struck for 7 runs that included an opposite field double for Sophomore first baseman Brian Moore that scored 2 runs. It was Sophomore Luke Kuhn’s turn to shine on the mound as through four innings he scattered 2 hits while striking out 10. Hopewell baserunners swiped 10 bases, and for the second consecutive game committed no errors.
It would have seemed hard to top the dominating results from the first 2 games, but then came the Monday night home opener against John Marshall High School. Four Hopewell pitchers combined to throw a no hitter 13-0! Sims, Matt Misegades, Ethan McCumber, and Blaine Bell struck out 10 Justices while giving up just 2 walks. Hopewell sprung for 11 runs in the second inning, and were led by Senior Misegades who went 2 for 2 at the plate with 3 runs scored, a run batted in, and a walk. Freshman Ethan McCumber also went 2-2 with 2 runs scored and a run batted in.
A more conventional 4th game score followed this past Wednesday as the visiting L.C. Byrd Skyhawks ( 2-2) were tripped up 4-2. The Blue Devils trailed in this one 2-0 after 3 innings before answering with 1 in their third inning and 3 in the fourth. While each of our runs were unearned due to 4 Bird errors, our pitching was superb, led by Sophomore hurler Luke Kuhns who scattered 5 hits over 6 and two-thirds innings, struck out 9, and gave up only 1 earned run. Misegades struck out the last batter earning the save as Kuhns had reached his pitch count limit.
5 Blue Devils had one hit each: Kuhns and Sims with a double, and Jake Irby, Josh Gorkiewicz, and Tristin Vega each with a single.
After last night’s game at Prince George, played after this Newsletter’s deadline, Hopewell prepares for next week’s games: a Tuesday home game against Dinwiddie, and a Thursday home game against Colonial Heights, both at 6 PM.
Each game can be heard starting with a 5:30 PM Pregame show on WHAP Radio , AM 1340, 96.9 FM, and an app like Simple Radio, and then typing in Fox Sports Radio - Hopewell. A recorded interview with Head Baseball Coach Adam Capps can be heard, as well as a live interview with the previous game’s most valuable player(s).
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